Closet flange

ABSTRACT

A closet flange for installing a bathroom commode, comprising an integrally formed unit having an upper flange, a cylindrical section extending downwardly therefrom for connection to a waste water discharge conduit, and a through passageway extending through the unit, wherein the upper flange has a sufficient thickness or vertical dimension to lie in the same plane as the finish tile floor surface when the closet flange has been bolted in place to the base floor above which a tile supporting underlayment has been installed with the finish tile floor installed over the supporting underlayment. No washers or other shim materials are needed to bring the upper surface of the flange in accordance with this invention into planar alignment with or above the surface of the finish tile floor.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to the field of closet flanges used to secure and support toilet appliances commonly known as water closets or commodes on bathroom floors, and in particular to one in which the upper surface of the flange is slightly above in accordance with this invention when finally installed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Presently existing closet flanges known to the prior art do not have their upper surfaces level with the finished floor or slightly above when finally installed unless linoleum flooring is used, but below the level of the finished floor when ¾ inch hardwood floors are laid or tile with ⅜ inch or ½ inch Durrock is used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention solves this problem with prior art closet flanges by providing a flange having a vertical dimension or thickness that is sufficient to reach the level of the bathroom floor when the closet flange unit in accordance with this invention is installed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004]FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a commode secured to a closet flange in accordance with this invention, the closet flange secured to the base floor, an underlayment layer on top of the base floor, a finish tile floor on top of the underlayment layer, the upper surface of the closet flange being co-planar with said finish tile floor.

[0005]FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a closet flange in accordance with this invention.

[0006]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a closet flange in accordance with this invention.

[0007]FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of a closet flange in accordance with this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0008] A closet flange 2 in accordance with the present invention comprises an integrally formed support member 4 having an upper end 6 and a lower end 8, a cylindrical portion 10 at the lower end 8 for connection to a discharge conduit, said cylindrical portion having an outer diameter of about four inches and an inner diameter of about three-and-a-half inches, a cylindrical wall 12 extending upwardly from the lower end 8 about one and three-fourths inches, a frusto-conical portion 14 tapering upwardly from the cylindrical wall 12 about one-quarter inch to form a tapered portion 16 to terminate at a cylindrical ring 18 extending upwardly from the tapered portion about one-quarter inch, the cylindrical ring having an outer diameter of about four and a half inches with an inner diameter of about four inches, the cylindrical ring 18 terminating at a relatively wide support flange 20 having an outer diameter of about seven inches and an inner diameter of about four inches. The foregoing dimensions may vary somewhat. For example, the cylindrical portion 10 extending downwardly at the lower end may have a three inch diameter instead of four inch.

[0009] The support flange 20 includes a cylindrical side wall 21 which in accordance with the present invention has a vertical dimension between the upper surface 22 of the support flange 20 and the lower edge 24 of the cylindrical side wall 21 that is sufficient to place the upper surface 22 at least level with, or co-planar with, or preferably ¼ inch or ⅜ inch above the finished floor of the bathroom comprising ceramic, marble or other tile 26 on top of the tile supporting underlayment 28, such as Durrock also known as wonder board as well as other types of tile supporting underlayment, which in turn lays on top of the base wood flooring 30, when the lower edge 24 of the cylindrical side wall 21 of the support flange 20 abuts against the surface of the base wood flooring 30 to which the closet flange 2 is bolted. In other words, if the vertical distance between the base wood flooring 30 and the upper surface of the tile 26 on the finished floor will be three-fourths of an inch, the vertical dimension of the cylindrical side wall 21 between the upper surface of the support flange 20 with which the upper edge of the cylindrical side wall is coterminous and its lower edge 24 will also be no less than three-fourths of an inch or greater, and preferably one inch, to avoid the need for washers or other shims under the lower edge 24 to bring the upper surface 22 of the support flange 20 into planar relationship with the upper surface of the tile 26 on the finished bathroom floor or above. The vertical dimension of the cylindrical side wall 21 of the closet flange in accordance with the present invention may be as great as one inch. Prior art closet flanges require the use of shims to bring the upper surface of the flange into co-planar relationship with the upper surface of the tile on the finished floor.

[0010] The support flange of prior art closet flanges has a vertical dimension or thickness between the upper surface and the lower surface of about five-sixteenths of an inch to seven sixteenths of an inch. The prior art does not provide a closet flange having a different vertical dimension or thickness than that. Such vertical dimension or thickness is not sufficient to bring the upper surface of prior art closet flanges level with, or co-planar with the upper surface of the finished tile or hardwood floor of the bathroom. Polyvinyl chloride closet flange shims or other shim material have to be placed on top of the prior art flanges in order to raise the level of the upper surface of the prior art flange into co-planar relationship with the surface of the finished tile floor.

[0011] The upper surface 22 of the support flange 20 of the closet flange 2 in accordance with this invention has to be co-planar with the surface of the tile 26 on the finished floor of the bathroom or ¼ inch to ⅜ inch above in order to secure the commode 32 itself firmly to the support flange 20 whereby the bottom surfaces of the commode 32 all rest firmly on and against the portions of the floor tile 26 and upper surface 22 of the support flange 20 which the respective portions of the commode 32 are facing. In a typical installation, the combined vertical dimension of the tile 26 and the underlayment 28 above the base wood flooring 30 when laid thereon is more than the five-sixteenth inch to seven-sixteenth inch cylindrical wall thickness of prior art closet flanges by anywhere from one-eighth of an inch to one-fourth of an inch. The closet flange 2 in accordance with the present invention provides a support flange 20 having a cylindrical wall 21 that has a vertical dimension between its upper surface 22 and lower edge 24, or thickness, of any selected dimension between one-sixteenth of an inch to one-fourth of an inch greater than the existing dimension of seven-sixteenths of an inch to one-half inch of prior art closet flanges. For example, a closet flange 2 in accordance with the present invention may have any selected thickness or dimension between its upper surface 22 and the lower surface 24 of its cylindrical wall 21 that is between nine-sixteenths of an inch and twelve-sixteenths or three-fourths of an inch, even as much as one inch. The workman who is doing the installation work can then simply measure the distance from the surface of the base wood flooring to the top of the tile 26 laid on top of the underlayment 28, and select the closet flange in accordance with this invention which has the support flange thickness or dimension between upper and lower surfaces of the cylindrical wall 21 thereof that matches the foregoing measurement and calculation.

[0012] It is also within the scope of this invention to provide a closet flange having a support flange with a thickness or dimension between the upper surface and lower surface even greater or less than that identified in the preceding paragraph, namely which is whatever thickness or dimension needed to match the vertical dimension between the upper surface of the finished floor material and the base flooring material to which the support flange is secured so as to bring the upper surface 22 of the support flange 20 into co-planar relationship with the upper surface of the finished floor material.

[0013] The support flange 20 includes arcuate connecting slots 40 and 42 for connection of the commode 32 to the support flange 20. Four bolt holes 44 are provided through the support flange 20 to bolt it to the floor. Four respective circular bosses 46 are provided on the lower surface 48 of the support flange 20, each circular boss 46 being concentric with a respective one of the bolt holes 44 to provide structural strength and stability at the regions where the support flange 20 is bolted to the floor. Each circular boss 46 terminates downwardly in an end wall 50 that is co-planar with the lower edge 24 of the circular side wall 21, such end walls 50 abutting against the base floor when the closet flange 2 is bolted. Thereto. The lower surface 48 of the support flange 20 is spaced apart inwardly from the lower edge 24 of the cylindrical wall 21, to provide an annular inset cavity 52 for the latching portion of the connecting bolts of the commode to rotate into locking position after being received through said arcuate connecting slots 40 and 42. 

I claim:
 1. A closet flange for securing a commode to the floor of a room having a base floor and at least one layer of finish floor material having an upwardly facing surface to be laid on said base floor and to extend upwardly from said base floor a first selected dimension, said closet flange comprising a connecting member having an upper end and an opposite lower end, a through passageway extending from said upper end to said lower end, a tubular connecting portion at said lower end for connection to a discharge conduit, a support flange at said upper end for connection to said floor and for connection of said commode to said support flange, said support flange having a an upper surface, a peripheral side wall having an upper edge coplanar with said upper surface of said support flange and a spaced apart lower edge, said upper edge of said peripheral side wall being spaced apart from said lower edge thereof a distance that is substantially equal to said first selected dimension whereby said upper surface of said support flange is substantially level with said upwardly facing surface of said finish floor material when said support flange is secured to said base floor with said lower edge of said peripheral wall in abutment thereagainst and said finish floor material has been laid on top of said base floor.
 2. A closet flange for securing a commode to the floor of a room having a base floor and at least one layer of finish floor material having an upwardly facing surface to be laid on said base floor and to extend upwardly from said base floor a first selected dimension as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first selected dimension is three-fourths of an inch and said upper edge of said peripheral side wall is spaced apart from said lower edge thereof substantially three-fourths of an inch.
 3. A closet flange for securing a commode to the floor of a room having a base floor, and at least one layer of finish floor material having an upwardly facing surface to be laid on said base floor and to extend upwardly therefrom a first selected dimension as set forth in claim 1, wherein said upper edge of said peripheral side wall of said peripheral side wall of said support flange is spaced apart from said lower edge thereof whatever dimension needed to match the vertical dimension between the upper surface of said finish floor material and said base floor to which the support flange is secured so as to bring said upper surface of said support flange into co-planar relationship with said upper surface of said finish floor material when laid on said base floor.
 4. A closet flange for securing a commode to the floor of a room having a base floor and at least one layer of finish floor material having an upwardly facing surface to be laid on said base floor and to extend upwardly from said base floor a first selected dimension as set forth in claim 1, wherein said upper edge of said peripheral side wall is spaced apart from said lower edge thereof substantially one inch.
 5. A closet flange for securing a commode to the floor of a room having a base floor and at least one layer of finish floor material having an upwardly facing surface to be laid on said base floor and to extend upwardly from said base floor a first selected dimension as set forth in claim 1, wherein said upper edge of said peripheral side wall of said peripheral side wall of said support flange is spaced apart from said lower edge thereof whatever dimension needed to match the vertical dimension between the upper surface of said finish floor material and said base floor to which the support flange is secured so as to bring said upper surface of said support flange into co-planar relationship with said upper surface of said finish floor material when laid on said base floor, said closet flange including a frustoconical portion extending upwardly from said tubular connecting portion, said frusto-conical portion terminating upwardly at said support flange, said tubular connecting portion, said frusto-conical portion and said support flange being integrally connected to form an integral closet flange.
 6. A closet flange for securing a commode to the floor of a room having a base floor and at least one layer of finish floor material having an upwardly facing surface to be laid on said base floor and to extend upwardly from said base floor a first selected dimension as set forth in claim 1, wherein said support flange includes a pair of slots to receive corresponding securing members of said commode to secure said commode to said support flange.
 7. A closet flange for securing a commode to the floor of a room having a base floor and at least one layer of finish floor material having an upwardly facing surface to be laid on said base floor and to extend upwardly from said base floor a first selected dimension as set forth in claim 1, wherein said support flange, includes a plurality of bolt holes therethrough to receive bolts for securing said support flange to said base floor.
 8. A closet flange for securing a commode to the floor of a room having a base floor and at least one layer of finish floor material having an upwardly facing surface to be laid on said base floor and to extend upwardly from said base floor a first selected dimension as set forth in claim 7, wherein said lower edge of said peripheral side wall of said support flange lies in a plane that is spaced apart from and below said support flange, an annular recess between said support flange and said spaced apart plane, a plurality of integrally formed circular boss members one of which is provided around each of said bolt holes extending downwardly in said annular recess, each of said circular boss members terminating downwardly in an end wall that is co-planar with said spaced apart plane.
 9. A closet flange for securing a commode to the floor of a room having a base floor and at least one layer of finish floor material having an upwardly facing surface to be laid on said base floor and to extend upwardly from said base floor a first selected dimension, said closet flange comprising a connecting member having an upper end and an opposite lower end, a through passageway extending from said upper end to said lower end, a tubular connecting portion at said lower end for connection to a discharge conduit, a support flange at said upper end for connection to said floor and for connection of said commode to said support flange, said support flange having a an upper surface, a peripheral side wall having an upper edge coplanar with said upper surface of said support flange and a spaced apart lower edge, said upper edge of said peripheral side wall being spaced apart from said lower edge thereof a distance that is ¼ inch to ⅜ inch greater than said first selected dimension whereby said upper surface of said support flange is ¼ inch to ⅜ inch above said upwardly facing surface of said finish floor material when said support flange is secured to said base floor with said lower edge of said peripheral wall in abutment thereagainst and said finish floor material has been laid on top of said base floor.
 10. A closet flange for securing a commode to the floor of a room having a base floor and at least one layer of finish floor material having an upwardly facing surface to be laid on said base floor and to extend upwardly therefrom a first selected dimension as set forth in claim 9, wherein said upper edge of said peripheral side wall of said peripheral side wall of said support flange is spaced apart from said lower edge thereof whatever dimension needed to match the vertical dimension between the upper surface of said finish floor material and said base floor to which the support flange is secured so as to bring said upper surface of said support flange ¼ inch above said upper surface of said finish floor material when laid on said base floor.
 11. A closet flange for securing a commode to the floor of a room having a base floor and at least one layer of finish floor material having an upwardly facing surface to be laid on said base floor and to extend upwardly therefrom a first selected dimension as set forth in claim 9, wherein said upper edge of said peripheral side wall of said peripheral side wall of said support flange is spaced apart from said lower edge thereof whatever dimension needed to match the vertical dimension between the upper surface of said finish floor material and said base floor to which the support flange is secured so as to bring said upper surface of said support flange ⅜ inch above said upper surface of said finish floor material when laid on said base floor.
 12. A closet flange for securing a commode to the floor of a room having a base floor and at least one layer of finish floor material having an upwardly facing surface to be laid on said base floor and to extend upwardly therefrom a first selected dimension as set forth in claim 9, wherein said upper edge of said peripheral side wall of said peripheral side wall of said support flange is spaced apart from said lower edge thereof substantially one inch. 